Canadian Cousins
Most of the Canadian branch of our family came to be in Canada because of the American Revolution.
When Britan recognized American independence with the treaty of Paris in 1783, many of the 50,000 or so loyalists living under British protection in New York and elsewhere decided to move to Canada. Those who had actively helped the British in the war could receive free land for themselves (up to 500 acres) and their children (200 acres each). Three of William Miller's grandchildren went to Canada at the end of the war. Elizabeth Miller Roblin, Samuel Miller and Hampton Miller were children of Garrett Miller.
Hampton Miller (b. 1769) was only 14 when the war ended in 1783. The extent of his loyalist activities is probably quite limited due to hiis age. He is mentioned as raising the British flag at the conclusion of the battle of Conger Blockhouse. He apparently accompanied his older sister Elizabeth to Canada in 1784, but only stayed a short time. By 1804 he was back in New York.
Elizabeth and Samuel's descendents many of whom remained in Canada give us a large number of Canadian cousins today. The fracture caused by the Revolutionary War can be seen today by the fact that on both sides of the U.S. /Canadian border Miller family members are unaware that they have cousins on the other side.
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Elizabeth Miller Roblin (b. abt 1754) (daughter of Garrett Miller, Granddaughter of William Miller) and her husband Philip Roblin's opposition to the war was no secret. Their opposition and Philip's alleged loyalist activities resulted in all of their property in Orange County, New York being confiscated in 1789. This included the 150 acre farm they had leased and made considerable improvements on as well as a share of the profits from the saw and grist mills Elizabeth had inherited from her father in 1778.
Philip was arrested and confined by the Americans for awhile and Elizabeth and their children lived under British protection in New York City. At the wars end Philip, Elizabeth and their five children left for Quebec July 4, 1783 as a part of Van Alstine's party. They ended up in Adolphustown, Ontario in 1784, drawing Lot 24 in 3rd Concession.
Philip and Elizabeth had nine children, eight survived to adulthood:
John Palen Roblin b. 1769 m. Mary Moore d. 1813
Philip Roblin b. 1772 m. Prudence Platt d. 1848
Owen Roblin b. 1774 m. Mary Dulmage d. 1845
Mary Roblin b. 1778 m. Marvel Garrison d. 1853
Elizabeth Roblin b. 1782 m. Benjamin Clapp d. 1867
Nancy Roblin b. 1784 m. William Ketcheson d. 1872
Fanny Roblin b. 1787 m. Peter Ruttan d. 1841
David Roblin b. 1788 m. Mary Rowe d. 1867
Philip died 1788 while Elizabeth was pregnant with their 9th child. Elizabeth married John Canniff in 1793 and had 3 more children:
Daniel Canniff b. 1795
Phoebe Canniff b. 1797
Joseph Canniff b. 1799
Elizabeth Miller Roblin Canniff died 6 June 1815 in Cannifton, Hastings Co., Ontario, Canada.
Elizabeth's first husband's full name may have been Philip John Roblin or possibly John Philip Roblin. The following story is often attributed to Elizabeth's husband Philip, however it is more likely about one of his relatives named "John Roblin":
(John Roblin) tried to remain a non-participant in the war; but as he sat on his stoop one evening, a party of Continental scouts came by, and, without any provocation or previous warning of any kind, fired fourteen shots at the house. Having ransacked the premises, they demanded that they be told where the money was concealed; and in order to make them divulge the hiding place, John Roblin, although already wounded in the knee, was stripped nearly naked; and his brother, Stephen, was hung to a tree by his thumbs. The party, being baulked in their search, became grossly offensive, one man pointed his musket at John Roblin's wife (putting the point of the bayonet to her breast) and dared her to call George the Third of England, her King. She did dare; but just as the fellow was about to fire, a comrade with a finer sense of decency and manliness, knocked the musket aside.
John Roblin seems to have been taken prisoner, as he was placed in a rebel hospital, where his treatment was so neglected that he became a lifelong cripple. In his absence, his wife complained to General Washington of the treatment they had received; and the family were not again disturbed.
*Source: Pioneer Life On The Bay Of Quinte, Global Heritage Press Inc., 1999 pp. 697-698.
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Samuel Miller (b. abt 1757) stated that he had "served his majesty faithfully during the revolutionary war". He participated in the defense of the Conger Blockhouse during the war and immigrated to Canada in 1789. Was given 300 acres of land in 1808 for his services to the British during the war. The battle of "Conger Blockhouse" may refer to the battle for the blockhouse built by the British to protect woodcutters in Bergen County New Jersey. The large number of troops as well as Btitish sympathizers housed in New York City during the war, required large amounts of fire wood. The British cut much of the wood they needed in Bergen Woods, New Jersey. The blockhouse was built to protect the woodcutters, and the rebels tried to take it resulting in a major battle.
Samuel married his sisters step daughter, Mary Canniff, in 1802 and they had 8 children:
John Canniff Miller b. abt 1803 m. Ruth Clark d. abt 1874
Samuel Miller b. abt 1806 m. Elizabeth Wager d. 1879
Nancy Ann Miller b. abt 1810 m. John Rambough d. ?
Patience Miller b. 1809 m. Abraham Dafoe d. 1877
Elizabeth Miller b. abt 1816 m. Charles Maze d. ?
William Ross Miller b, 1816 m. Lucinda Wager d. 1892
Catherine Miller b. abt 1817 m. John Spencer d. ?
Phoebe Miller b. abt 1820 m. ? d. ?
Joseph Miller b. abt 1823 m ? d. ?
Samuel died in about 1840.
A letter dated 22 June 1835 written by Samuel Miller:
Adolphustown 22nd June 1835
John I Leckie Esq
Sir, I take this opportunity of forwarding to you Daniel McMullen's affidavits to prove that I settled in this providence in the year 1789 and have always resided therein, and have done my duty faithfully during the late war and that I served his majesty faithfully during the revolutionary war. Which I request you to attach to my petition praying to be placed on the UE list and lay before the council and all the proof of my services now in the council office for which services I received a grant of 300 Acres of land under order in council 23 june 1808. At the time I petitioned I was told by Judge Fisher, Col Credford and the (not readable) Esq and others that my name would be placed on the U.E. List and that my children would each receive 200 acres of land on account of my service along with many others who served with me at the same time besides their other military land. I assure you that I would not undergo the fatigue and run the risk that I did in the blockhouse for half the lands in upper Canada, only imagine the whole American Army engaged against the BlockHouse four four and twenty hours. Our cannons dismantled the enemies shots and then for us to (not readable) the bullets and cannon shots flying abot our heads in all directions. In short our whole block house riddled from top to bottom the dead strewing the floor of our little fort so that we had to scramble over them while we were pursuing our work of defence, and at last between sunset and dusk to fire the last cannon shots had, after which we fired musket balls, which I myself carried in my hat. Two hatsfull for every shot and knowing at the same time that if we fell alive in the enemies hands the gall would be our portion.being what they termed refugees. I had hope my name paced on the U.E. List as my children are wishing to draw their lands next July Court and I have doubt but the government would grant 200 acres in addition to the 300 acres already granted by complying with the request you will very much oblige.
Your very obedient servant
his
Samuel X Miller
mark
Both Samuel Miller and Elizabeth Miller Roblin/Canniff have numerous descendents in Canada as well as a number of descendents who have immigrated back to the USA. I am in the process of updating my data base of descendents and will post a link when it is complete.
